High-Throughput Screening of Candidate Analgesics Using a
Patient-Derived Human iPSC Model of Nociception Identifies Putative pain
reducing compounds
Abstract
Background and purpose: In this study, we applied an induced pluripotent
stem cell (iPSC)-based model of inherited erythromelalgia (IEM) to
screen a library of 295 small molecules aiming to identify candidate
pain-modulating compounds. Experimental approach: Human iPSC-derived
nociceptor-like cells, which exhibit action potentials in response to
noxious stimulation, were evaluated using whole-cell patch-clamp and
microelectrode array (MEA) techniques. Key results: Nociceptors derived
from individuals with IEM showed spontaneous electrical activity
characteristic of genetic pain disorders. The drug screen identified
four compounds (AZ106, AZ129, AZ037, and AZ237) that significantly
decreased spontaneous firing with minimal toxicity. The calculated IC50
values indicate the potential efficacy of these compounds.
Electrophysiological analysis confirmed the compounds’ ability to reduce
action potential generation in IEM patient-specific iPSC-derived
neurons. Conclusions and implications: This high-throughput approach
demonstrates the reproducibility and effectiveness of human neuronal
disease modelling, offering a promising avenue for discovering new
analgesics. These findings address a critical gap in current therapeutic
strategies for both general and neuropathic pain, warranting further
investigation. This study highlights the innovative use of
patient-derived iPSC neuronal models in pain research and emphasises the
potential for personalised medicine in developing targeted analgesics.